– The Associated Press

NEW YORK – Anthony Brown scored a season-high 18 points, and Josh Owens had 15 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday night to help Stanford advance to the NIT championship game with a 74-64 victory against Massachusetts.

The Minutemen (25-12) took their first lead since early in the game with about eight minutes left, but Brown hit a 3-pointer to push the Cardinal back on top, then later scored seven points during an 11-3 run that put Stanford in control.

Stanford (25-11) will play Minnesota, which beat Washington 68-67 in overtime, in the final Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

MARQUETTE: Facing speculation about his future, Coach Buzz Williams issued a statement that appeared to reaffirm his commitment to the school.

CONNECTICUT: Center Alex Oriakhi was granted his release from the basketball program.

GEORGETOWN: Forward Hollis Thompson plans to skip his senior year, hire an agent and enter the NBA draft.

MEMPHIS: The school extended the contract of basketball coach Josh Pastner by one year, carrying him through the 2017 season.

FOOTBALL

A NEW college football award named after Nebraska Heisman Trophy winner Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers will be given to the nation’s top return specialist.

FIESTA BOWL: Steve Whiteman, the former chairman and CEO of Viasoft, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the game.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MIAMI: The school extended Coach Katie Meier’s contract for two more seasons after the Hurricanes won 54 games in the past two years.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN: Chris Vozab, who spent this past season as an assistant coach at Dayton, was hired as new women’s basketball coach.